I have been thinking about how I have a Mac (which I find superior to other computers) but how I really don't use it for much beyong the usual e-mail, facebook, blogs, class assignments, pictures.
That seems like such a long list of things, but then I see someone else in front of a computer and I watch the way people find information in a fraction of a second. Beyond key board shortcuts, I'm talking about downloading and jumping from profile to profile and opening random blogs in new tabs and finding news stories and multi tasking upon multi tasking upon multitasking.
But instead of feeling intrigued or inspired, I just feel very unsettled.
1. One because I don't know how to do most of that so I wonder if I just am not getting my money's worth out of my computer, or technology.
2. Two because I don't want to feel like I need any of that.
3. Three because technology really seems to bother me more and more each day.
I've been trying to figure out if I've always felt this way, or what has recently triggered this. I have been reflecting on some hypotheses:
1. One is that in Argentina I did not use nearly this much technology. And maybe for 8 months I was in this no-new-technology phase where I wasn't exposed to any new products beyond what I already had. My phone was very simple, pay as you go, hope that your messages go through, keep it brief. I of course used my computer to skype pretty often, but I never felt like I had anything scheduled out. Though I used facebook to keep in touch with people, I also felt like we were all kind of doing our own thing.
2. Two is that my generation has seen ridiculous(ly new) advances in technology. I remember typing programs in fifth grade when it took me two weeks of computer class to type out an instructional paragraph on making peanut butter and jelly. I think I kept up with all of these advances pretty well until about a year or two ago. And I think at this point I stopped trying to keep up (or forgot to keep up) and it's not until NOW that I feel like everyone has kept up but me.
Either way, I have noticed in these past few days that I judge people who talk about technology. I judge people who aren't bothered by being asked to 'be the first to like' something on a website that is NOT facebook, but knows that you have a facebook. I don't like how "it" knows our location, and I don't like how people use this to their advantage in order to find directions or get somewhere. I don't like when I ask people to look things up on their phone. I hate when I want to watch maybe one or two youtube videos, but I'm with several people and it turns into an hour of them.
I dont like that I feel like I have to keep up. I don't like the idea of getting a "smart phone", and I wonder if I can just not.
I want to be lost somewhere anywhere. I want to use maps that I carry in my pocket. I want to have hour long conversations with people about things that I actually think are meaningful. I want to take walks. I want to read books instead of online articles (which are cheaper, so I hate that I like that) so that I'm not thinking about the screen flashing light and information at me.
Speaking of technology. Every Mondays from 6-7 my housemate Brittany Bieber and I are doing an environmental talk/music/poetry radio show called ORGANIC THOUGHT. And you can stream it live at wzbc.org or listen to it through archives up to two weeks after the show. WZBC Newton 90.3 And I'm really excited about that.
I have a lot of topics to address, not all of which are nearly as negative as this post-but this has been something that has been consuming my thoughts.
love.love.love.
3 comments:
Yes. The other day I started tumblr and I was hesitant because I thought, I'm not going to follow people..and I don't go around online finding new pictures and videos and links to post..so why would people "follow" me?
and I carry around the bus schedule in my purse and it's a hassle because it's a fat schedule that I have to unfold just for the #3 bus. I have thought about writing the times in my phone almost every time I have opened it, but I don't because I don't want to look at my phone for bus times or showtimes or directions. I want to ask you where we are supposed to change highways to get from Santa Cruz to San Luis. I want to point out the flying dolphins instead of looking down at my phone.
So I go through these phases, too, of hating the internet and computers. I think mine came from always doing homework online. Writing papers, looking up assignments, studying for tests, and reading articles for class. And then I didn't want to have a computer anymore. Also I get fed up sometimes with waiting for an IM response from someone when really it doesn't matter! I could live today and not have a conversation online, but sometimes I need to stay up til 3 talking online because it connects me with my friends.
So I think we keep ourselves in good balance. We keep up on blogging, so that the computer screen will have something more to say than a status update, and when we get sick of technology, we go outside. we go for a drive with directions we can't follow anyway and we listen to mix tapes.
and we love. love. love. each other. and not just our mac's.
and a little while ago I decided there should be a band named organic beets. you were very close to reading my mind. watch out!
I would really love to talk to you about everything in this post. I have many, many, many thoughts on all of this.
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